Organ

The organ is the grandest of all instruments although smaller, more portable, versions have been made. The most well known variant, pipe organs, make their sound through pressurized wind passing through a series of differently pitched pipes which vary in size and quantity depending on the size of the organ. The instrument is controlled by a number of keyboards called manuals and mechanical stops which can alter the timbre.

In earlier centuries the organ was used in a liturgical setting to accompany singing or for performing musical interludes in ceremonies. Due to the organ’s ability to play a wide range of sounds it was predominantly a solo instrument, although a number of concertos have been written for it. In the 19th century the solo organ symphony was developed; it was primarily a French creation, composed by the likes of Widor and Vierne. Other variants of the organ include the chamber organ and the modern electronic organ.